lovinghands

Don`t worry Chrissie, it gets everyone like that sometimes.

I`ve been knitting for `angels born asleep` for a while and still get a lump in my throat occasionally. my twins were in the local special nursery when they were first born and my first grand-daughter was a month premature so she was there for a wee while so i like to `give something back` for the care they had. My other daughter has two healthy kids, but also had two miscarriages in between so I can relate to the poor folk in similar circumstances. I just count my blessings, and when sadness overcomes me I do a bit of `happier` knitting, like Innocent smoothie hats as they are great fun to do and so quick.

Elaine.

We have had two of our grandchildren 'born asleep' and lost others through miscarriage so we understand how much things like these memorial blankets and the wee gowns and angel pockets can mean to bereaved families. Suzanne manages by telling herself she is making them for dollies - it works for her :0)

It's ok to feel that Chrissie. i have knitted lots of the baby gowns and now knitting the blankets. It's good to think they are being knitted by people who care but if it gets too much knit a toy then go back to it.

I knit these things because I know it's one less thing for a grieving parent to think about. Although it's sad, the parents would appreciate their babies being wrappe in something pretty and small. I would have appreciated a pretty blanket.

Do what you can and dont worry if you can't. Everything is appreciated even the dog blankets!

Ellie xx

I have started a blanket for the challenge, the white baby one. I found some wool I had in my stash and started with power, now I have come to a hick up. My ball of wool is a 400grm, so as I have been knitting away I dont know how much wool I have used to the half way stage. Does anyone know how many stitches are on needle at this stage?
I am at a stop stage now until some kind person tells me.
Does the edging have to be white, or can it be blue or pink pastel shade? Or have to ones for the challenge to be white as basic square?
Great for knitting while out in the sun or a telly watching bit of knitting - easy peasy!!!!

hi everyone
just got my first parcel off towards the summer challenge. Ive been given a bag of cotten-wool, but not sure what to make with it as Ive never used cotten before, any suggestions.....
can you follow dk patterns with it?
Wend

hi tinyholt, on the sands site it says 22 inch square, then the border is just on one edge, or you can do a 20 inch sqare and add borders to all four sides. they have to be all in white

Hi Tinyholt,

from the cast on corner to the kneedle, it can be 20 inch if you are adding knitted edge to all sides, 22 inch if you are adding lace to 2 sides.

It would be lovely with pink and blue edges - but as I understand they are all white only (shame!)

Happy knitting
Ellie xxx

well done Sharon and Stephanie for the info re Sands blankets. The girls are quite right - 20 inches to the corner if you are going to put the lacey borders right round 22 inches if you are only doing top and bottom and 24 inches if you just want to put one lacey edge or none at all. Yes - they do need to be either all white or all cream - they don't want any colours for these :0)

Hi Chrissy my daughter has lost three babies now at 20 weeks , sometimes as Suzanne says its better to think its for dolls. But plenty challenges there and if not comfortable try something else.

Lou , I've been having a sort and have put aside a few old bath towels. Do you want them to turn into pads? If so I'll post them up to you and you can send them onto whoever needs them.
Karen

That would be wonderful Karen - we have been collecting in old towels, sheets, duvet covers etc to keep the stitchers going on this - it certainly seems to be a very emotive subject as well and has everyone working hard to help these poor girls :0)

Have a box packed which will be uplifted on Friday and I'm using parcel2go. I seem to have accumulated a load so thought a box would be the best idea. Quite a variety of things are in it and the picture shows some of them. The SANDS blanket has come out very nice and while knitting it I thought of the parents that it would help and the wee angel who will be wrapped in it. Quite gulpy lumpy throaty stuff.

Rhona

They are beautiful Aunt Rhona... really pretty. I hope my blanket comes out as nice as yours - you are so quick!

Didn't realise you were in Ayrshire, I was there at the weekend - nice and sunny!

Well done
Ellie xx

Lovely colours Rhona, very pretty.

Well, I just went upstairs to get the pile of towels that i had sorted out for Lou and they had disappeared! Have just realized that my husband had used two and put the rest away in the cupboard, thinking they were washing. I'll send them tomorrow Lou, just need to wash the two used ones again.
Karen